Shut up and look out the window.

I found this passage in an article on cultural faux pas in NYC*, but I love it so much I just thought I should share it with everybody...I think it applies anywhere public, crowded or otherwise.

This one is absolutely vital - don't interfere with others' privacy. New York is a very crowded place. The way people deal with it is to create their own space. Thus, what outsiders often see as aloofness and isolation is, in fact, a sign of community; there is a shared ethos that everyone respects others' privacy and expects others to respect his own. This is chiefly communicated through eye contact. If you stare at someone on the subway: if you linger in looking out your window into someone else's bedroom; if you react to or interrupt a celebrity; or if you seem to be intentionally listening in to another's conversation, you are violating one of New York's most sacred unwritten rules. Keep yourself to yourself, buddy, and let others do the same.

I read this and automatically thought of the bus here in Victoria. Daily bus-commuters share this community of mind-your-own-business mindset. I can immediately spot people who aren't used to taking the bus because they're looking at people too much, talking too loudly or too much, or listening/trying to join in on conversations that have nothing to do with them.

Just something to think about next time you're out in public. 


*article found via Nubby Twiglet

zombocat and progress update

Okay well after a crisis around 2pm today where I realized I had wasted around six hours putting together a research paper for my 20th century Latin American Literature class on Jose Marti ... who did not live during the 20th century.

Yeah. It dawned on me after having basically read and typed up his biography like 40 million times.

Wait a minute, is that a nineteenth century date? Hmmm DAMNIT!

Luckily I was alone in the house so the only guy who had to hear any swearing was the kitty and she was like RAAH I'm a zombie because it's easter and that's some hilarious topical humor!

Entertaining, right?

So anyway now I'm just putting the finishing touches on an analysis of a rad story that I'm so glad I got to read. It's called Chac Mool, by Carlos Fuentes. First, CLICK HERE to find out what a Chac Mool is if you don't know, or you'll be like "what the eff is going on?", then CLICK HERE to read the English translation of the story. It's not the best translation ever but you'll get the point.

So anyway yay me, you know, for doing that, but I just finished this paper and it's ten at night and I have like 100 hours of crap still to do by tomorrow afternoon and I'm totally freaking out up in here.

AAAGH

~fin~

STAR WARS and other projects

(star wars cookbook Ryan found at the library)

I have not seen Star Wars.

And I'm finally at the point in my life where enough is enough and I should really just watch it. From the Family Guy movies to Spaceballs to ... um ... every single pop-culture medium ever ... I'm pretty sure I have seen enough references to the movie to know the plot.

I think I might watch them someday and kind of write out my reactions, because the movie isn't a surprise to anybody in the world except for me these days and it might be funny to read.

Right now that seems a little ambitious but that's what summer time is for. In fact, I'm planning a project for once school is over so my brain doesn't whither away: there's a teeny little video rental place near(ish) my house and they have a section of Foreign Films and Documentaries. I was looking at them and thought how cool it would be to watch them all. So I think I might. And kind of do a review for each one.

Fun, no?

I also had this idea that I should watch every 'cult classic', and every movie that everybody but me has seen and write about them as well.
For example, Teen Wolf. I just saw that movie like three weeks ago for the first time. I could revisit Porkys and Revenge of the Nerds and look at them from a 21st century perspective.

Maybe.

We'll see how the summer goes. I might be much too busy enjoying myself and not having midterms all the time.

too much research

I did too much research. Now I'm trying to write an article without sounding too technical.

I totally have to "dumb it down"...weird.

film festival article

Click here to see my first school newspaper article. They changed my title...there's no way I would have said "dark offerings" haha.